delete_user_policy

THE RISK

Critical Risk

Why delete_user_policy needs a policy

Deleting user policies irreversibly removes access controls and cannot be undone without re-attachment. This is a destructive operation with significant blast radius in an AWS IAM context—an agent misusing this could revoke critical access for users or services. High severity due to the potential for widespread privilege denial.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'delete_user_policy' explicitly indicates deletion of an IAM policy attachment, which is irreversible.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access delete_user_policy gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control delete_user_policy

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and AWS, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for delete_user_policy:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "delete_user_policy"
  ]
}

delete_user_policy disappears from the agent's tool list entirely, and any attempt to call it is denied. The rest of the server keeps working.

Create a free account and register AWS — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

RESTRICT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More AWS tools

Destructive bulk_delete_by_criteria bulk_delete_by_criteria Destructive cache_delete Delete a value from the cache. Args: key: The key to delete Returns: Destructive cache_delete_many Delete multiple values from the cache. Args: keys: List of keys to delete Destructive cache_delete_multi Delete multiple values from the cache (alias for delete_many). Args: keys: Li Destructive delete Delete a Valkey key. Args: key (str): The key to delete. Returns: Destructive delete_access_key delete_access_key Destructive delete_datastore Delete a data store from AWS HealthImaging. Destructive delete_group delete_group

All 300 AWS tools →

Destructive tools on other servers

Android Forensics ADB MCP Server create_full_backup 0xarchive web3_revoke_key Frida Game Hacking MCP clear_scan cPanel MCP Server clear_spam_box

Go deeper

Govern infrastructure agents → Production lockdown, region locks, and approval-to-delete on every infrastructure call agents make.
Critical-risk tools in AWS → Every critical-risk tool this server exposes, in one view.
All critical-risk MCP tools → Every critical-risk tool across the catalogue, and the policy pattern that contains them.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Blast radius → How much damage one compromised or confused agent can do — and how to bound it.
Tool call approval → Approval gates on individual tool calls: auto-allow, prompt, or deny.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →
PolicyLayer vs alternatives → How deterministic, per-call MCP policy compares with gateways, identity layers, and authorisation platforms.

FAQ

Questions about delete_user_policy

What does the delete_user_policy tool do? +

delete_user_policy. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the AWS MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.

How do I enforce a policy on delete_user_policy? +

Register the AWS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for delete_user_policy: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches AWS. Nothing to install.

What risk level is delete_user_policy? +

delete_user_policy is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.

Can I rate-limit delete_user_policy? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the delete_user_policy rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block delete_user_policy completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for delete_user_policy. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides delete_user_policy? +

delete_user_policy is provided by the AWS MCP server (@awslabs/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every AWS tool call.

Start from AWS, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →